origin of violin
in europe, the violin can be traced back to the 9th century, with its origin possibly in asia. not less than 450 years were required to bring it to its present form, representative of the experience acquired throughout the centuries by the makers of stringed instruments.
the primitive form of the stringed instruments is the musical bow, an arched stick held by a taut string tied to its two ends. the string is divided by a loop or bridge. in order to enhance its resonance, the primitive bow was held before the mouth. in the more evolved forms, resonance enhancers included coconut, calabash (a hollowed out, dried gourd generally used as a recipient), tortoise shells, wooden boxes or pig bladders that were thrust tightly between the strings and the bow.
in the manufacture of stringed instruments, two original forms were already present in classical antiquity: the polygonal drum of the zither and the rounded sound-box of the lyre, carved so as to imitate a tortoise shell, and used, apparently, as the first resonance device. this distinction in form was accompanied by a distinction in usage. the instrument with the polygonal drum, the more noble of the two, was used exclusively for serious music and for accompanying religious or lyric song; as for the lyre, it was a popular instrument used in feasting.
资源难易程度:★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
高考资源网版权所有 ©2005-2010
未经许可，盗用或转载本站资料者，本站将追究其法律责任！
